Omega 3 Fatty Acids For Treating Depression & Anxiety

The National Institute of Mental Health notes that in the United States, 18.1 million adults have either major depression or dysthymic disorder, and 40 million adults have a type of anxiety disorder, such as a phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. These conditions can interrupt patients' normal functioning. Some patients choose to use dietary supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, to improve their symptoms. Before starting any alternative treatment for either depression or anxiety, patients should speak to their doctors first.

Function

An essential fatty acid, omega-3 fatty acids are in food and cannot be made by the body. Three types of important omega-3 fatty acids exist: docosahexaenoic acid, alpha-linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. The George Mateljan Foundation notes that the body converts alpha-linolenic acid into other two types of omega-3 fatty acids. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that omega-3 fatty acids help to reduce inflammation and also appear to help with cognitive abilities, such as memory and performance. Deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids results in several problems, such as depression, poor memory, fatigue and heart problems.

Sources

Depression and anxiety patients can obtain omega-3 fatty acids through food and supplements. The George Mateljan Foundation lists flax seed, salmon and walnuts as excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, and broccoli, sardines, cabbage, mustard seeds and oregano as very good sources of omega-3 fatty acids. The University of Maryland Medical Center adds that eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are available in fish oil capsules. Patients may also choose to use different oils, such as flax seed oil or fish oil.

Effectiveness

The results of studies on the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids for the treatment of anxiety or depression are mixed. Alan E. Logan, author of the "Lipids in Health and Disease" article "Omega-3 fatty acids and major depression: A primer for the mental health professional," notes that frequent fish consumption is linked to a lower risk of depression; but in one study that looked at smokers and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid intake, the results showed that the participants had more anxiety or depression when they had a higher consumption of the fatty acids. In his conclusion, Logan could not recommend regular use of omega-3 fatty acids for treating major depression, though he did note that clinicians should make sure their patients have enough omega-3 fatty acids in their diets.

In the study, "Omega-3 fatty acids as treatment for mental illness: which disorder and which fatty acid?" authors Brian M. Ross, Jennifer Seguin and Lee E. Sieswerda explain that eicosapentaenoic acid may help more with the symptoms of a mood disorder, such as depression; with anxiety, the authors note that while no conclusive positive effect of omega-3 fatty acids have been found, further research is needed. In their conclusion, the authors point out that while they cannot recommend omega-3 fatty acids as a treatment, current findings warrant further study.

Drug Interactions

Depression and anxiety patients with using certain medications for other conditions may not be able to use omega-3 fatty acid supplements. For example, University of Maryland Medical Center notes that the supplements may cause problems for patients taking diabetes medications, such as metformin, insulin or glipizide; blood-thinners, such as warfarin or aspirin; or cholesterol-lowering medications, such as lovastatin, atorvastatin or simvastatin. Omega-3 fatty acids may also interact with topical corticosteroids used for psoriasis and cyclosporin, a medication used with organ transplants.

Considerations

The University of Maryland Medical Center warns that depression or anxiety patients should not take more than 3g of omega-3 fatty acids supplements a day, as this may increase the risk of bleeding. If taking omega-3 fatty acids through a supplement, patients should talk to their doctors about proper dosage.